PRESIDENTS DAY (USA)...
When Congress created the three-day weekend, many states that observed Washington's 2-22 and Lincoln's 2-12 birthdays melded them into one and called it "Presidents Day." The result: The real reason for the holidays in the first place has been mostly forgotten or relegated to afterthoughts. That's too bad. Let's remember them through their words.
Abraham Lincoln:
• "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
• "As an individual who undertakes to live by borrowing, soon finds his original means devoured by interest, and next to no one left to borrow from - so must it be with a government."
• "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
George Washington:
• "Speak not injurious words neither in jest nor earnest."
• "Be not obstinate in your own opinion."
• "I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man."
• "If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."
• "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves. ... The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance or the most abject submission. That is all we can expect. We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die."
These are words we can learn from. Happy birthday, Mr. Presidents.
When Congress created the three-day weekend, many states that observed Washington's 2-22 and Lincoln's 2-12 birthdays melded them into one and called it "Presidents Day." The result: The real reason for the holidays in the first place has been mostly forgotten or relegated to afterthoughts. That's too bad. Let's remember them through their words.
Abraham Lincoln:
• "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
• "As an individual who undertakes to live by borrowing, soon finds his original means devoured by interest, and next to no one left to borrow from - so must it be with a government."
• "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
George Washington:
• "Speak not injurious words neither in jest nor earnest."
• "Be not obstinate in your own opinion."
• "I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man."
• "If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."
• "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves. ... The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance or the most abject submission. That is all we can expect. We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die."
These are words we can learn from. Happy birthday, Mr. Presidents.
